In a large house in Scotland, children, their parents and household staff take part in sports days, talent contests and trips to the beach. Eight-year-old Rosie, who lived there for seven months, says that one of her favourite days was when she watched her mum and staff member Lisa falling over the finish line doing the three-legged race. But this isn’t just any shared home. This is a residential rehab for parents struggling with drug or alcohol problems – and their children.
Managed by the charity Phoenix Futures, Harper House in Scotland is one of two national family services the organisation operates (the other being Sheffield’s National Specialist Family Service) that enable parents to remain living with their children as they recover. To some, this may appear controversial, but to those familiar with the concept, the potential benefits are clear.
In the Government’s last reporting year, there were almost 82,000 children in care in England (2024/25), while during the previous year, local authorities in England spent £13.3 billion on children’s social care. Meanwhile, 2022/23 research from the NSPCC revealed an 8% increase of children in care across the whole of the UK over the last five years. The charity also reported that being in care can be detrimental for children, from traumatic separation from family members to unsuitable placements, negatively affecting health, wellbeing and educational outcomes for many looked-after children.
However, Rachael Clegg, Head of Residentials (Women and Families) for Phoenix Futures, says that the consequences for children who remain with their parents during recovery are generally positive. “Using Scotland’s eight wellbeing indicators, we’ve seen some fantastic outcomes for the children who come through Harper House,” she says, adding that this includes over a third of children feeling significantly more secure and protected, as well as enjoying better health. “With these gains, children’s mental health is greatly improved, alongside their parents’ wellbeing and parenting skills, combining to create sustainable recovery for the family and breaking the cycle of trauma to create lasting change across generations.”
How does family rehab work?
Phoenix Futures’ family services aren’t simply houses where children are able to stay while their parents receive drug or alcohol treatment and rehabilitation. They work closely with social services, incorporating registered on-site nurseries, have close links with local schools, as well as access to local activities to build structure and meet other families. They also provide parenting skills development programmes, therapeutic treatments for drug and alcohol problems, and tailored support depending on the family’s need.
For example, many women who access drug and alcohol services have a history of experiencing domestic abuse, so the relevant support is provided there too in the form of the You & Me Mum programme, which helps families in processing the impact of domestic violence. Each family has their own kitchen on site, and are supported to budget, meal prep and cook, alongside being given nutritional advice to help build healthy habits. Money management programmes can also be delivered and all families are supported to build a comprehensive move-on plan that includes attending groups in their local areas at home. And then, of course, there’s the fun stuff like three-legged races and movie nights.
But perhaps most importantly, parent-child bonds remain and potentially grow, while parents are able to hold onto daily family routines, such as getting the children up, giving them breakfast and taking them to school. “I worried constantly about what it might mean for Rosie going into residential rehab,” says her mother Carrie. “But deep down, I also knew that if I didn’t make a change, I could lose everything anyway. So, I took the step. I was so scared, but I was determined to change.” Carrie admits that at first she found it a struggle being around other families as she wasn’t used to people and felt reluctant to open up. She explains: “When I arrived, I was angry, mistrusting, and difficult. I pushed people away because it felt safer that way. But the staff never reacted with frustration or judgement. They were patient, calm, and consistent in a way I had never experienced.” Carrie slowly started to let her guard down and became part of a community of women who understood each other in a way nobody else could.
Breaking the stigma
There is, sadly, a reluctance for mothers experiencing drug or alcohol problems to speak out and ask for help as their biggest fear is having their children removed. A report by the Maternal Mental Health Alliance states that mothers experiencing drug or alcohol problems are often the most judged group of women in society, and many feel unable to access the support they so desperately need. However, there are local authority commissioners who are proactively looking at ways to address this stigma – and to fund services that help some of the most vulnerable (and often demonised) members of society: mothers facing addiction issues.
Cllr Paul Bell, the Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care, has made referrals into Phoenix Futures’ National Specialist Family Service from his constituency in Lewisham. He says: “At Lewisham Council, we recognise how vital family rehabilitation services are for our residents. These services keep families together, offering parents support rather than penalisation, and creating safe, nurturing, and empowering environments where healthy relationships can flourish. Family-focused rehab isn’t readily available, which makes it even more important that we fund and protect it.”
‘I’ve remained drug and alcohol free’
In a study following 41 parents and 42 children, 70% of those who stayed at the Sheffield Family Service – which first opened its doors in 1996 – are still together in a healthy family environment up to four years later. And it seems that the parents who complete the rehab programme are also far more likely to remain well thanks to ongoing support for positive reintegration into their local community. Sarah, who self-referred for help via the organisation CGL (Change, Grow, Live), was subsequently referred to Phoenix Futures’ Sheffield Family Service. As a survivor of domestic abuse who has previously had children removed from her care in the past and was struggling with her mental health, the service allowed Sarah to maintain her sobriety and, importantly, learn to bond with her baby.
“I had just had my daughter and it meant the world to have her with me while I was undergoing treatment,” she says. “We took part in baby massage, playgroup, craft activities, memory box making and so much more. Importantly, when I was leaving to go into my own accommodation, the Service team helped me put together a timetable to keep me well. We planned regular swimming sessions, welfare checks and regular catch ups with my mum.” Today, Sarah feels like she’s had a second chance. “I’ve never had this before. Staying with my daughter this time has been a wakeup call,” she admits. “I’ve remained drug and alcohol free and the future feels much more hopeful. If this service was offered to me in the past things would have been very different for me.”
Following Carrie’s time in Harper House with daughter Rosie, she says being kept together as a family has also changed everything. “We went from a home with no structure to one full of warmth, routine and love. We rebuilt our bond from the ground up,” she says. “It didn’t just change my life, it gave me confidence, hope, and the tools to build a safe, loving home for Rosie.” Meanwhile, Phoenix Futures is keen to expand similar services across the UK, but acknowledge that this requires sustained commissioning, long-term funding commitments, and the political will to challenge stigma around addiction and parenting.
“Despite their proven impact, Sheffield Family Service faced the risk of closure as recently as last year,” says Rachael. “At a time when record numbers of children are entering care and local authorities face mounting financial pressure, it would be devastating if family-focused residential rehab was allowed to disappear. If we are serious about breaking cycles of trauma, reducing the number of children entering care, and supporting recovery in a meaningful, lasting way, these services must be protected – and replicated. The question is no longer whether family rehab works, but whether we are prepared to invest in solutions that keep families together and change lives for the long term.”
